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Amazon has another Echo sale with up to $60 off
To get November (and the holiday shopping season) off to a flying start, Amazon has put many of its Echo devices on sale, including some of its more recent Alexa-powered gizmos. For instance, you can snag yourself or a loved one an Echo Show 5, which Amazon revealed in May, for $60 (down from $90).
Amazon's new Echo Dot offers better sound at the same price
As rumored, Amazon isn't playing around and it's getting ready to launch a slew of Alexa-powered devices. First up, it's a new Echo Dot, which the company says offers better sound than before and it's still only $50. According to Amazon, this Dot is 70 percent louder compared the previous model, thanks to a 1.6-inch driver that's designed to deliver more powerful sound with lower distortion and "enhanced" bass. It also comes with an upgraded appearance, featuring a fabric coat that makes it look more stylish than the existing plastic hockey puck.
Do you need a smart home hub?
When life gets chaotic, it can be convenient to have all your smart home devices operating on the same wavelength. Achieving this sort of harmony sometimes requires a hub to consolidate the myriad gadgets in your house. But not everyone needs a dedicated smart hub to make their setup run smoothly. A smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or the Google Home can serve a similar purpose, with each device's respective apps acting as central command. Manufacturers have even begun bundling hubs into other devices like security systems and mesh WiFi routers, making home automation simpler for beginners.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you can still grab
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.
The best audio gear to give as gifts
Maybe there's an audiophile on your list, or maybe you're shopping for someone who recently acquired a new phone and could use something better than the pack-in headphones. Either way, we have a slew of recommendations in the audio gear section of our holiday gift guide. On our list you'll find smart speakers from Google and Amazon alike, along with Sonos, whose new "One" speaker includes Alexa built in, with Google Assistant support coming soon. When it comes to headphones, our selections run the gamut from the affordable (Jabra's Move headset) to the high end (Bragi's Dash Pro wireless earbuds and these noise cancelling headphones from Sony), with a couple mid-range options in between. Rounding out the list, we have a soundbar, drum machine, synth app, the Amazon Echo Show and one of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers. Find all that and many more items in our holiday gift guide, at the link below.
The best Cyber Monday deals
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.
Engadget giveaway: Win a smart home package courtesy of Stringify!
If you've been piecing together a smart home setup one connected device at a time, you'll be happy to know that Stringify can help you create smart sequences at the tap of a button or at just the right time of day. While you can link smart devices and even wearables, the app's abilities also tie in to online services such as Google Drive, RSS feeds and push notifications. If you have a Withings connected scale, you can set up a "flow" that automatically populates a spreadsheet with new weight readings. Want to set the mood for bedtime? You can have the lights dim slowly once it gets to a certain hour, with the temperature lowered and even have some snoozy jams playing on your connected speaker -- automatically. This week, Stringify has provided us with a respectable smart home starter kit for one lucky reader, including a Sonos Play:1, LIFX bulbs, a Samsung SmartThings Hub with sensors and an Echo Dot. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Already have some devices you'd like to tie together? The Stringify app is free on iOS and Android if you want to check it out. Winner: Congratulations to Mitch B. of Brooklyn, NY!
New in our buyer's guide: the Pixel and Pixel XL, and more!
Nope, we're not done adding phones to our buyer's guide. Hot on the heels of inducting the new iPhones (and before that, the Galaxy S7 and HTC 10), we're tossing in both of the new Google phones, the Pixel and Pixel XL. While we're at it, we decided the PlayStation VR deserved a spot in our gaming section right alongside other premium virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. At the opposite end of the price spectrum, the $50 Amazon Echo Dot is a great value at that price. Lastly, GoPro -- a staple company in this list -- earns a spot for its newest flagship action camera, the Hero5 Black. Find all that in more in our buyer's guide, and stay tuned for our next round of additions, likely sometime after CES.
Amazon Alexa deals will make you shout out your shopping list
The folks at Amazon are clearly attempting to entice you into the dangerous world of shopping with voice commands. They're doing Alexa-exclusive deals for customers who shop through the company's Echo, Echo Dot and Tap speakers, starting today until July 12th. The team is also adding more items to the list (including gadgets and smart home products) on the 12th, which the company has designated as "Prime Day." You simply have to ask your faithful voice assistant: "Alexa, what are your Prime Day deals?"
